Short on answers, fast on ice

BREAK IN THE ACTION: The team gathers for instructions from Tibbetts and to field questions, albeit with few answers, from a reporter.

Photos by John Howell

CALLING THE SHOTS: Coach Dave Tibbetts admires the enthusiasm his team has for ice hockey. Many, he said, go on to play prep-school and college hockey after graduating from high school. He cites Emily Fox, who as a freshman at URI, is playing on the Rams’ club team.

IT’S IN THE FAMILY: Vets freshman Natasha Savage said she started playing hockey at the age of 5. “My brother played and I looked up to him,” she said. She dreams of playing college hockey.

MOM WORRIES: Toll Gate student and one of two goalies for the girls’ hockey team, Erin Vermilye, says her mother worries about her choice of sports and the position she plays.

GOING FOR THE PUCK: Team members stretch out and speed up during practice at Thayer Arena.

Samia Pratt, who plays left wing, suffered a concussion while playing ice hockey for the Lady Titans. Until she is cleared to return to the ice, she shows up for games and practices and, for good measure, wears her helmet.

They wear lipstick and nail polish, skate like demons and can hit a slap shot that would make any goalie cringe.

Girls’ hockey isn’t for the timid and that’s the way they like it.

A post-school practice Monday afternoon at Thayer Arena found the Warwick co-op team comprised of girls from Vets, Toll Gate and Pilgrim High Schools running drills and firing shots at nets guarded by goalies Erin Vermilye and Gabriella Dicomitis. Coach Dave Tibbetts had it all under control.

Tibbetts has seen girls’ hockey grow in popularity since the high school league was established 11 years ago. Warwick has fielded a team for 10 of those years. The league has a total of 10 teams in two divisions with players from 20 schools. That puts the total of girl players at more than 200, said Tibbetts.

Just off a 2-1 win over Bay View Academy, the Titans were in high spirits and carrying smiles behind their face guards. But they weren’t talkative. As they gathered at Tibbetts’ command, they were asked what they like about playing hockey.

“I just love it,” volunteered one team member. The others nodded in agreement. Questioned what their families and friends thought of their choice of sport brought more smiles but few words.

“My mom worries,” said goalie Vermilye, who takes a lot of hits. Her chin guard bore signs of deflected pucks.

And have they played on the boys’ teams? More than half the group raised their sticks, but none volunteered more information.

With obvious signs of relief, indicating the questions were over, Tibbetts said it was time to get back to work. The girls didn’t waste a moment. Hunched over, with arms and sticks swinging and legs pumping, they sped to center ice.